Shirley's Party Advice Part 7 - how did they all get so big...

[stealthsquiggle]

Part 7 - link to previous one to follow!

Thanks both. I was tempted to go the whole hog with the book theme(as I think you suggested it here ) but I don't have much free time to do decs so the theme now is more 'paper and white'. MIL is so arty and loves crafty stuff so I'm lucky! I think she'll probably have done about 70 paper roses and has decorated jam jars with paper and hearts cut out. I will share some pics somehow.

Yes we have a photographer. Wasn't sure whether to but thought we'd regret it if we didn't! They're only there until about 10pm so I might get a few disposables for the later stuff.

No speeches planned or presents for anyone - as we're getting married on our own it's all quite casual. We might just thank everyone for coming etc

We've asked for no presents but am wondering whether to have something for cards. There's a fireplace so could just have a box there or simply pile them up. I think some people will still being gifts but they can always go in the corner.

I was wondering round John Lewis earlier and they had some lovely kids party stuff. The usual gruffalo and hello kitty bits but also a pop art selection - lots of things like pop art popcorn boxes. Very much looking forward to throwing children's parties hopefully in the future

I would just have a safe place in mind for cards and any presents, IIWY.

... and I look forward to your first children's party - you will have set the bar high with the wedding party, by the sound of it.

Stealth i said to dh i almost died at her birth, you slit your wrist at her 1st birthday who's attempting death this year? So far so good...

Messy - word of warning i had disposable cameras and the photos are shite!!! Compared to even camera phones the quality is crap. I honestly would put cd outs for people to burn to or even a poster with your email address or something saying send me your digital images. I collated mine and did a photo book.

And be warned kids parties are addictive. You'll be here for years like us ha ha

Or, if you use Flickr, you could set up a group and invite everyone to contribute their photos?

Yes!!! Well done stealth.

Hello! Party went well I'll share some pics in the next few weeks.

Only thing I wasn't entirely happy with was the fairy lights. They claimed to be warm white but when we had 10 sets up on the ceiling it was a bit 'white white'. Also people arrived soooo late. The invite said 7pm and some came after 9pm! It didn't say 'from 7...' Anyway...

All was good and I had an almighty hangover yesterday! Did get to go through our cards etc yesterday but I'm worried we're missing a few. Some people didn't being us cards at all (we asked for 'no presents please' but still got a few) but I'm sure I saw some bringing in cards but not sure now if they have disappeared. I guess we'll never know!

I presume I only need to do cards for those that bought gifts, not those who bought cards or nothing! I made an effort to thank everyone on the night for coming.

Glad it went well Messy. How did the drinkers tickets work out?
at coming two hours late, how rude! How were your mother in laws decoration creations?

The tickets were ok. We put out enough for one each but those that came later didn't get one. Their loss! I presume others got two or three but it was fine

The decorations were fab but what was most useful was her and her partners general creative vision. As well as paper flowers and actual flowers I bought they brought a few bagfuls of ivy and other green clippings from their garden. They set about putting it up with the flowers around the room and made it all look amazing. All in all we spent five hours decorating the room. I was so exhausted at the end!

Ah see you cant tell us that and not give us photos.

Alert stealth/blathers, did one of you mention that you have an adult Jedi outfit? We have been invited to a fancy dress party in may and Dh is adament he wants to go as "something star wars". Can either of you help? Xx

messy, it all sounds great - and your MIL sounds fab too

DW - we have a black hooded robe for anyone 6ft 2" or less. I actually made it as a magician's cloak, so it has a blue satin lining, but other than that it is a jedi robe. Any good? Otherwise I can point you to the pattern I used. I made one for DS in brown but it's probably too small for you and too big for DD1 (but if jedi younglings are also invited I have a fab robe which would probably fit DD2 )

Apropos of nothing in particular - perfect craft party cake

Where is everyone ? I have just come back from the US with a suitcase full (>50%, I kid you not, I am very [proud] of my negotiation with BA check-in) of the makings of October's science party - DD does not get to change her mind now (not that she knows what I have brought back, blabbermouth that she is )

Anyway, I (a) feel a need to share and (b) will probably have enough leftovers to supply a smallish home-based science party [hint]

Im dyinggggg to do a science party but i know i'll have to include my science geek friend who i accidentally propositioned. What did you get stealth tell me purlease. Im being so genuine by the way im biding my time until my five year old comes out of the fairy/princess/punk phase and realise we can blow stuff up!

And im here...lurking, just in the middle of the next house move!

I got:

• cups with eyeballs in the bottom
• make your own kaleidoscope kits
• touchable bubbles for party bags
• flipping frogs (ditto)
• super stretchy string (prizes)
• tornado tube
• mento geyser powered car kit
• a set of giant test tubes which I haven't decided what to do with
• a solar system hanging decoration thingy

I already had (from ebay)

• balloon powered helicopters (for party bags)
• mini test tubes for invitations

..now all I have to do is to remember that I have all this stuff and not buy even more nearer the time! (there are a few more things I need like the ingredients for silly putty and pots for them to take it home in)

The cups were quite expensive (by my standards) and are pretty durable, so I am trying to decide if there is a way to get them washed out in time to be the party bag, or whether to settle for them just going in the party bag - either way, there is not much point in us being stuck with 36 of them!

Oh, and good luck with the move, DW!

I dont move until the 21st but i get the keys to the new place friday so i need to go in and decorate the dd's rooms and clean. It has a jacuzzi bath which needs fumigating!!

So what activities are you planning?

Just the thought of moving makes me want to hide under a duvet and never come out. There's a reason thia is our forever house even if it does need a load of work done this summer

Activities - making kaleidoscopes, making silly putty/gunk, constructing structures with coffee stirrers, marshmallows and cheetos, and a couple of others which I will think of. Then geysers, including the car, if I can get a village hall with some outside space.

Lol our village hall has outside space and i get discount moving back to the parish yahooooooo.

Although i think you need more explosions in that mix! Bug ones.

Without outside space I am not sure pyrotechnics is such a great idea - some of the local village halls are listed buildings and the rest are wooden huts

Lol at "bug ones" meant big obviously.

You've had me on pinterest looking up science parties. I want petri dish jelly!

Ah. Yes. That. Blathers and I debated that. I blame my chemistry teacher mother, but encouraging DC to eat our of lab equipment feels wrong. but at the same time petri dish jelly is very cool

Oh and bug explosions sound interesting. Shades of "starship troopers"

I can't believe I've been away for so long that this dropped off of my Active Convos list!

In my defence, I have been poorly repeatedly and running whenever I haven't been poorly.

Back now though with a week and a half to go to DS's birthday